Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that the Union Budget 2026–27 pushes technology-driven AI-integrated structural reforms to shape India’s future and lays down a forward-looking roadmap for the next quarter century.
Addressing the media in a post-Budget interaction organised by the Ministry of Science & Technology, the Minister said the Budget may take time to be fully appreciated, but it reflects a clear, sequential vision where structural reforms are powered by cutting-edge technologies, and cutting-edge technologies are increasingly driven by AI. He said this makes the Budget inherently futuristic and places a responsibility on informed stakeholders, including the media, to communicate its long-term benefits to citizens.
Dr Jitendra Singh addressed concerns regarding benefits for the middle class, stating that the Budget’s true impact lies in long-term relief from rising healthcare and living costs, rather than short-term income calculations. He said large-scale investment in biopharma, diagnostics, vaccines, and gene-based therapies would significantly reduce the financial burden on families dealing with chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and metabolic disorders.
Highlighting India’s growing health challenges, the Minister noted that the country has over 11–12 crore diabetics, nearly 14 crore pre-diabetics, and a rapidly increasing incidence of cancer, with projections touching two million cases annually by 2030. He said affordable drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics, supported by domestic biomanufacturing, would be a major social and economic support, especially for the middle class and vulnerable sections.
Referring to the ₹10,000 crore Biopharma Shakti initiative, Dr Jitendra Singh said India has already emerged as a global bio-manufacturing hub, ranking among the top bio-economies globally and within the Indo-Pacific region. He said the new outlay will further strengthen this position by expanding capabilities in biologics, biosimilars, vaccines, medical devices, and gene-based technologies.
The Minister described biotechnology as the next major industrial driver, comparable to the role played by IT in previous decades, and said the upcoming industrial revolution will be a bio-revolution, encompassing recycling, regeneration, circular economy, and advanced life-science innovations.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the Budget also addresses non-communicable diseases and mental health, areas that were neglected in earlier decades. He announced that new super-speciality academic and clinical institutes for mental health will be established in North India, ensuring wider and more equitable access to care.
He also highlighted the decision to establish new institutes of Ayurveda and pharmaceutical education, saying these initiatives will strengthen traditional medicine systems while integrating them with modern research and healthcare delivery.
The Minister said the extension of customs duty exemptions on imported components for nuclear power plants till 2035 will improve project efficiency and attract credible domestic and international investment. He said this aligns with recent reforms aimed at expanding private sector participation in the nuclear ecosystem.
Dr Jitendra Singh also referred to the development of rare earth corridors and critical mineral initiatives, stating these will support clean energy technologies, electronics manufacturing, and strategic industries, while reducing import dependence.
Calling the National Geospatial Mission a foundational reform, the Minister said it will play a decisive role in planned urbanisation, infrastructure design, and land management, especially as India witnesses rapid rural-to-urban migration. Implemented through the PM Gati Shakti platform, the Mission will enable evidence-based planning using satellites, drones, and advanced mapping tools.
Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted the ₹20,000 crore allocation for Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) as a critical step towards industrial decarbonisation, circular economy, and environmental sustainability. He also announced structured deployment of AI in agriculture, ensuring farmers benefit from technology while being safeguarded from its unintended effects.
The Minister said, the Budget ensures inclusivity, with measures that directly benefit the poorest sections, including improved healthcare access, affordable medicines, district-level cancer care facilities, women-led entrepreneurship programmes, and livelihood generation through science-based interventions.
Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Prof. Abhay Karandikar, said the Budget places strong emphasis on science, technology, and innovation, with the term “technology” appearing repeatedly in the Finance Minister’s speech. He announced the creation of two mega science R&D infrastructure facilities, a 30-metre National Large Optical Telescope, and a National Large Solar Telescope near Pangong Lake, which will complement India’s space and solar missions and significantly enhance global scientific collaboration.
Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Dr Rajesh S. Gokhale, said the Biopharma Shakti programme builds on the successful National Biopharma Mission and will accelerate translation of research into manufacturing. He said the initiative strengthens industry-academia partnerships, shared infrastructure, clinical trial networks, and vaccine development, while also integrating biotechnology-based carbon utilisation technologies.
Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr M. Ravichandran, outlined key initiatives under the Blue Economy, including expansion of national waterways, coastal tourism, offshore and deep-sea fisheries, and sustainable shipping. He said new policies permitting fishing beyond territorial waters and in high seas will open significant economic opportunities while ensuring environmental responsibility.
Director General, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR, Dr N. Kalaiselvi, said CSIR will play a central role across multiple Budget initiatives, including CCUS, semiconductors, critical minerals, rare earth magnets, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing. She said CSIR laboratories have been designated as centres of excellence for critical metals and minerals, aligning national research capabilities with industrial and strategic needs.
Concluding the interaction, Dr Jitendra Singh said the Budget reflects a mission-oriented approach, where research, manufacturing and deployment move together. He said science-led reforms announced after the Budget underline India’s readiness to compete in technology-intensive global sectors, while ensuring that growth remains inclusive, sustainable, and citizen-centric.